Army ASVAB Scores

A successful, challenging career in the Army all starts with your performance on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

How you perform on this test, which is a series of timed aptitude tests, can make all the difference in whether you have a job you enjoy or one you feel stuck in during your enlistment. In addition to that, your test results can determine whether you make it into the Army at all.

Here’s what you need to know:

Once you’ve taken the ASVAB, you will receive a report with your scores. The scores listed in the report are percentages on a scale of 1 to 99 and indicate not how many questions you answered correctly but rather how you compare to other test takers.

For example, a score of 80 percent would mean that when your results are compared to others who took the test you placed in the 80th percentile, or your scores were in the top 20 percent of those who took the test.

On the report, you will see your Armed Forces Qualification Test score as well as your scores in a number of ASVAB subtest categories, including: General Science; Arithmetic Reasoning; Word Knowledge; Paragraph Comprehension; Mathematics Knowledge; Electronics Information; Auto & Shop Information; Mechanical Comprehension; and Assembling Objects.

AFQT Score

Your AFQT score determines your eligibility to join the Army. The AFQT score is based on your performance in the following ASVAB test areas: Paragraph Comprehension, Word Knowledge, Mathematics Knowledge and Arithmetic Reasoning.

The Army currently requires a minimum AFQT score of 31. However, the Army has been known to occasionally approve waivers for those with scores as low as 26.

To qualify for enlistment incentives, including bonuses, you need to score at least a 50 on the AFQT.

ASVAB Subtest Category Scores

Your score on the nine subtests will determine what jobs you qualify for in the Army.

Here’s why: the Army uses various combinations of those subtest scores to create line scores that are used to determine your eligibility for various Military Occupational Specialties (MOS).

At this time, the Army is the only service that looks at line scores and offers a guaranteed job to each new recruit. The other branches of the military offer some combination of guaranteed job or guaranteed aptitude/career area.

The Army does not allow recruits to retake the ASVAB in an attempt to increase their aptitude scores – so be sure to prepare for the test and do your best the first time.

ASVAB and Army Jobs

Jobs in the Army are referred to as Military Occupational Specalties (MOS). The Army organizes your ASVAB subtest scores into groups known as line scores to better determine what MOS you qualify for. The ASVAB subtests are: General Science (GS); Arithmetic Reasoning (AR); Word Knowledge (WK); Paragraph Comprehension (PC); Numerical Operations (NO); Coding Speed (CS); Auto and Shop Information (AS); Mathematics Knowledge (MK); Mechanical Comprehension (MC); Electronics Information (EI); and Sum of Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension (VE). Note that as Numerical Operations (NO) and Coding Speed (CS) subtests are phased out, some line scores may be changed.

Note: Use the data listed below as a general guide to see how your ASVAB score can impact the job you qualify for. Data is subject to change at anytime.

Army Line Scores:

CL – Clerical: VE+AR+MK

CO – Combat: AR+CS+AS+MC

EL – Electronics: GS+AR+MK+EI

FA – Field Artillery: AR+CS+MK+MC

GM – General Maintenance: GS+AS+MK+EI

GT – General Technical: VE+AR

MM – Mechanical Maintenance: NO+AS+MC+EI

OF – Operators and Food: VE+NO+AS+MC

SC – Surveillance and Communications: VE+AR+AS+MC

ST – Skilled Technical: GS+VE+MK+MC

See the table below for Army jobs and the required minimum ASVAB line scores required for each job.